Window-closing device.



W. B. UFFERT.

WINDOW CLOSING DEVICE. APPLICAT| 0N r1110 MAR. 21. I916.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

WALTER B. UFFERT, 0F HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

WINDOW-CLOSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jame, 1917.

Application filed March 21, 1916. Serial No. 85,674.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER B. UFFERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hempstead, in the county of Nassau, Long Island, and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWindow-Closing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and. use thesame. I

The invention relates to improvements in window closing devices.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofwindow closing devices and to provide a simple practical and efficientwindow closingdevice of inexpensive construction adapted to maintain theupper and lower sashes of a window in an open position at any adjustmentand capable of manual operation to cause the sashes to closeautomatically thereby obviating the necessity of hurriedly closing thesashes by hand in event of a storm or the like.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being under stood that variouschanges in the form, proportion and minor "details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a windowprovided with a window closing device constructed in accord? ance withthis invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same partlyin elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig.1.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention 1 and 2 designate upper and lower sashesslidably'mounted in a window frame or casing 3 and connected by sprocketchains 4 and5 with counterbalancing weights 6 and 7. The sprocket chains4 and 5 pass over upper pulleys' 8 and 9 having sprocket teeth 10 and 11and also provided with reversely arranged ratchets 12 and 13. The

weight 6 of the upper sash is sufficiently heavy to raise the same andmove the said upper sash to its closed position when the said sash isfree to move under the influence of the weight 7 which isconnected withthe lower sash and of slightly less weight than the latter and willpermit the lower sash to close automatically when the said lower sash isfree to move downward. The pulleys or rotary elements 8 and 9 aremounted in suitable casings 14 and the window sashes are held at anydesired adjustment by means of a double pawl comprising an approximatelyY-shaped lever 15 and 'a pair of pawls or dogs 16 and 17. The Y-shapedlever 15 is composed of spaced sides 18 and. 19, a transverse connectingportion 20 and a stem 21. The sides are pivoted by rivets 22 or othersuitable fastening devices to projecting ears 23 that are mounted on thewindow frame or casing. The pivots are located near the upper ends ofthe sides 18 and 19'and the stem.-

21 extends upwardly from the central portion of the transverseconnecting portion 20 of the lever. The pawls or dogs 16 and 17 arepivoted intermediate of their ends between spaced ears 2 1 and 25 of thesides 18 and 19 by rivets 26 and 27 or other suitable pivots and thesaid pawls or dogs consist of straight levers projecting downwardly beyond the sides of the approximately Y- shaped lever 15 and provided attheir lower ends with reversely arranged teeth 28 and 29, for engagingthe ratchet teeth 12 and 13' of the sprocket wheels or pulleys 8 and 9.The lower ends of the sides of theY-shaped lever are sufficiently closeto the pivoted pawls to engage the same and move the pawls out ofengagement with the ratchet teeth when the lever is operated. Thepivoting of the pawls permits indepenc ent movement of the same to allowthemto ratchet over the ratchet teeth in'the opening movement of thesashes. The tooth 28 eX- tends upwardly and inwardly and engages theratchet teeth 12 of the pulley or wheel vof the upper sash. This willprevent the wheel from rotating under the influence of the weight 6 whenthe tooth 28 is in engagement with the said wheel. The other tooth 29engages the ratchet teeth 13 of the pulley or wheel 9 of the lower sashand holds the pulley or wheel 9 against rotary movement under theinfluence of the lower sash, the weight 7 serving merely to partiallycounterbalance the lower sash and prevent a too mit a limited pivotalmovement of the said; pawls or dogs. The lower ends of the sides of theapproximately U-shaped lever extend below the ears and form arms 32 forengaging the pawls or dogs to move the same out of engagement with theratchet teeth of the pulleys or wheels when the lever 15 is operated bythe means hereinafter described' to releasethe sashes and permit thesame to close automatically.

The lever 15 of the double pawl is manually operated by a rock shaft 33j ournaled. in suitable bearin s34 and provided intermediate of itsen swith an approximately U- shaped crank bend 35 forming an arm forengaging the upwardly extending stem or arm of the lever 15.- The arm orstem 21 extends through the loop or bend 35 which projects upwardly fromthe shaft 33 and the latter is provided at its outer end with anoperating arm 36'to which an operating cord 37 or other suitableoperatingdevice is connected. The operating cord is adapted to be pulleddownwardly to partly rotate the rock shaft and swing the crank bend and'the stem ofthe lever 15 inwardly with the frame thereby moving. thepawls or dogs outwardly out of engagement with the arm but any othersuitable means may of ratchet teeth of the pulleys or wheels. As soon asthe operating cord is released the coiled. spring will return the pawlsor dogs 16 ahd 17 to their engaging position. The upper end of the armorstem is provided with a perforation 38 for the attachment of anysuitable operating means for enabling a plurality of windows to besimultaneously operated from a single point. Any suitable means may beemployed for this purpose, illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.The crank bend is normally maintained out of engagement with the stem orarm of the lever by a weight 38' secured to the lever and extendingdownwardly and outwardly in the opposite direction from the operatingcourse be employed for this purpose.

What is claimed is 1. In a window closing device of the class described,the combination with upper and lower sliding sashes, rotary elementsprovided with ratchet teeth, separate flexible connection arrangedon therotary elements and connected withthe said sashes and provided withindependent weights, the weight for the upper sash being heavier thansaid sash and the lower sash being heavier than its weight, a leverfulcrumed at an interme diate point and provided with an upwardlyextending arm, said lever being also provided with spaced ratchetlockingsides hav-- ing means for engaging the ratchet teeth of the saidrotary elements againstrotary movement, and a releasing rock shafthaving operating means and provided with, an arm arranged to engage .thestem or arm of the said lever. I

4 2. In a window closing device of the class described, the combinationwith upper and lower sliding sashes, rotary elements provided withratchet teeth, separate flexible connections arranged on the rotaryelements andconnected with the said sashes and provided with independentweights, the weight for the upper sash'being heavier than said sash, alever fulcrumed at an intermediate point and provided with an upwardlyextending arm, said lever being also provided with spaced ratchetlocking sides having means for engaging the ratchet teethlof the saidrotary elements to hold. theflatter against rotary moveinentand a rockshaft provided with a crank loop or bend receiving the releasing -armorstem ofthe said lever, operating means connected with the rock shaftfor swinging the crank shaft to actuate the same lever and meansconnected with the rock shaft for holding the, crank bend normally outof engagement with the said lever.

' 3. In awindowclosing device of the class described, the combinationwith upper and lower sliding sashes, rotary elements provided withratchet teeth, separate flexible connections arranged on the rotaryelements and connected with the said sashes and provided withindependent weights, the weight for the upper sash being heavier thansaid sash, a lever fulcrumed intermediate of its ends and having spaced;ratchet locking side's, pawls or dogs pivoted to .the spaced sidesadjacent to the lower ends thereof and projecting beyond the saidendsand havmg reversely arranged teeth or en-ga ing portions to engagewith the said ratc et teeth,

springs connected with the pawls or dogs for urging the same toward theratchet teeth and means for operating the lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature' in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER B. UFFERT Witnesses: v PHILIP PHILLIPS,

DANIEL HARRINGTON.

